ICMR asks states to stop using kits from 2 Chinese companies after ‘wide variation’

New Delhi: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has advised all states in the country not to use the rapid antibody blood test kits procured from two Chinese companies, after their products showed “wide variation in sensitivity (referring to the kit’s ability to detect a positive case).” The two Chinese companies include Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech and Zhuhai Livzon diagnostics.

The ICMR, in an advisory released on April 27, said that it has evaluated the rapid antibody blood test kits of the aforesaid Chinese companies. “The results have shown wide variation in their sensitivity, despite early promise of good performance for surveillance purposes,” the national medical body said.

The ICMR maintained that it had provided the rapid test kits for “surveillance purspose” only to the states. Meanwhile, they said that some states have raised issues regarding the performance of the above products. After the two Chinese companies were found to have supplied faulty test kits, the medical body had advised states to stop using them and return them back to the medical suppliers.

Further, the ICMR stated that RT-PCR throat/nasal swab test is the best way to diagnose COVID-19. “RT-PCR test detects the virus early and is the best strategy to identify and isolate the individual,” the ICMR said